Failed the Citizenship Test Three Times? The Hearing With a Citizenship Officer, Explained

A hearing with a citizenship officer sounds intimidating, like a courtroom, but IRCC describes it as a session of oral questions, not a legal proceeding.

Who you meet and what it is for

The hearing is held with a citizenship officer, not a judge. It helps IRCC verify whether you are eligible for Canadian citizenship: depending on the type of hearing, the officer asks you questions orally.

Format and length

IRCC says a hearing lasts 30 to 90 minutes. Your invitation gives you the details of your own hearing.

What the officer may ask

Depending on the type of hearing you are invited to, the officer may orally ask questions about your knowledge of Canada, similar to citizenship test questions (an oral knowledge test with 20 questions, of which you must pass 15), about your residence in Canada, and, to assess your English or French language skills, up to 9 questions, of which you must pass 6.

Two possible outcomes

After your hearing, IRCC sends you a letter with the result. If you pass, wait for your invitation to the citizenship ceremony. If you fail the hearing, IRCC refuses your application, and you need to reapply and pay the fees again if you still want to become a citizen.

How to prepare differently for a hearing than for the test

Because the questions are asked out loud, it helps to practise explaining answers in your own words, rather than only recognizing the correct option among four choices, which is what multiple-choice practice trains. Reviewing the same Discover Canada content while speaking your answers aloud, ideally with another person asking you questions, is the most direct way to prepare for this format.